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Trail Maintenance - 12/24/2011

Seeing it was the day before Christmas, I decided on my first winter climb of Albany Mountain. Despite a couple inches of fresh snow, I was able to make my way to the summer trailhead. I removed some new blowdowns and brushed the first mile of the Albany Notch Trail from the south before heading up to Albany Notch.

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Sign at Albany Notch

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Before heading up to Albany Mountain, I decided on a short bushwhack. I've had my eye on some nearby ledges on Peter Mountain. I headed up there for a fine view of Albany Mountain.

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I also had a view of Keewaydin Lake.

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I returned to the notch and then started up Albany Mountain. There was a big blowdown that I've had to duck under every time I climbed this mountain. Today was the day I would cut through it. It took a while but I used a handsaw to cut through it twice before rolling the cutout section away.

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Nearing the summit

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View from the southern ledges

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Windfarm to the east.

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As I began my descent of the mountain, I could see the bright, orange setting sun through the trees. I took a short 200 foot herd path to an outlook.

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Christmas Eve on Albany Mountain